Disabled parking placard crackdown in Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. 
The city of Oakland is getting ready to crack down on drivers who misuse disabled parking placards.

The city council is expected to set the fine for misusing the placards to park at meters for free or at designated parking spots at $510. Until now, police have been in charge of enforcing that, but Tuesday evening's council vote is expected to also give that ticketing power to parking enforcement officers.

The fine is possible after a law authored by Democratic Assemblywoman Fiona Ma of San Francisco took effect in January, authorizing civil penalties from $250 to $1,000 for misusing disabled parking placards.

Oakland parking officials say the city would start by issuing warnings for a three-week period before officers begin ticketing.